According to a BBC article, scientists have discovered that much of that heady first response that we call love may be thanks to the release of a chemical in our brains. The protein, a type of neurotrophin, gives rise to the feelings we associate with falling in love.

Not only that, but apparently these effects wear off after a time, allowing the extreme early feelings to mellow into a less passionate but potentially more stable relationship with the loved one. Which is something of a relief, since the headline announces that “Romantic love lasts just a year” - for a moment I thought we’d all been doomed to very brief relationships indeed.

These researches into the mechanisms of our feelings are all very interesting and worthy, I’m sure, but too often a crucial question is never asked. It may well be true that this neurotrophin is responsible for the feelings we experience in the first flush of love but what causes the chemical to be released in the first place? It seems to me that the chemical is much more a result than a cause and that the scientists are trying to catch a will o’ the wisp in all this.

Dream dates do exist! At least they do for David Brown, a 24 year old British man who dreamed about a cell phone number. David thought it might have been the number of someone he met the night before so he texted it. Thus began a romantic tale.

The number actually belonged to Michelle Kitson, a 17 year old girl he had never met. But the two hit it off - texting led to phone calls and letters and eventually David moved 60 miles to be nearer his dream lover.

Their story is an example of a true romantic dream. Michelle and David have just returned from their honeymoon.

Man Dreams of Cell Phone Number, Texts It and Meets Future Wife

The black swan mentioned in my previous post, Lovesick Swan, has turned out to be a female.

The love-sick black swan has been reunited with her mate after a long winter. The swan, now named Petra, fell in love with a swan-shaped paddle boat last summer but because the boat was put in for the winter, she has had to wait months of lonely winter nights to see her love again.

The paddle boat was put back into the lake and Petra quickly rejoined her love. Swans mate for life and Petra has chosen her strong, silent partner. This looks like a love that will last.

In a world where nearly half of all marriages end in divorce, a story about a couple in Maine who are celebrating their 80th wedding anniversary is rare enough to make news.

Kathleen and Waldo Tarbell were married on April 9, 1927 in Calais, Maine. Waldo worked for the railroad and Kathleen worked in a factory, packing sardines. Waldo made 37 cents an hour and Kathleen got 25 cents for every 100-can case of sardines she packed. Life wasn’t easy, but together they managed to raise two kids and stay together.

Today they have multiple grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Family members and friends across the generations will attend the party that will be held in the couple’s large room at the Oceanview Nursing Home.

Former Pembroke couple to celebrate 80 years of marriage The Bangor Daily News